Americana Stars

Sunday, 20 June 2010

I know it's been a while, but please don't hate me! : ) My postings were taking so long to correct when they would go up with mistakes (I am a stickler for grammar, spelling and organization) that I gave up for a while. But now that I see they have changed the editor, this will be so much more intuitive and direct.

Alot of things have changed and moved forward with The Americana Stars Memorial. I am now working on the new website home of the project, AmericanaStars.org, with Leigh, my HTML code writer and designer.(She is one of the stitchers on the project. I have spoken of her many times before.) Since this memorial is sponsored through a non-profit arts organization, it didn't feel right to show it on my .com site anymore. It will now have a home of its own! It is still in the works, so the home page will redirect you to AmericanaArts.com where I still have all of the information.

I am always making calls and trying to schedule appointments to move forward. The fundraising has been difficult since everyone has such money issues this past couple of years, but I found a way to hopefully work through that. One of my contacts (I am not at liberty to say right now) came up with a wonderful idea. So I am starting my new Sponsor-a-Star program. Anyone can sponsor the star of a friend or loved one and receive special benefits. To read more, check it out here! I am so excited about this. I already have stars sponsored!

I hope all of my followers got my emails with the new blog address. For those who linked my project to their blogs, a very special thank you.

Oh, by the way, I think you might like to know that I am now up to 3000 stars completed! Only 500 more to go!

Thursday, 1 October 2009

Well, the summer has come and gone and it was a difficult one. August was especially hard for me. Not only was the first anniversary of my Mom's passing on August 5th, I also lost 2 very special people in my life. It took its toll on me and I took time away from most things, especially my blog and the 2009 Christmas Challenge blog, where we make ornaments and post them for all to see.

I did, however, follow up on a contact I made in June with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. I made it my business to meet the President and CEO, Joe Daniels, at the public opening presentation of the memorial site at Ground Zero. He was very impressed with The Americana Stars Memorial and asked me to set up an appointment. We finally met September 14 and he does agree that this project should be shown at Ground Zero. I told him that all of my stitchers and supporters would love to know this - would he mind if I told them. He said no.

You can imagine how excited I was after all of these years of stitching. I wanted to wait a couple of weeks before I told all of you when I felt more comfortable with the news. It has been my highest goal from the start to have this memorial project displayed at the epicenter of that terrible day. I cannot tell you how many people, as much as they loved and believed in the work, were skeptical that I could actually get such a unique, but massive piece shown at such a perfect location. All I can say is YOU HAVE TO REACH FOR THE SUN IN ORDER TO TOUCH THE MOON.

There is still so much to be done. I have more stars to stitch and new ideas for the display mechanism. More people with which to meet. It is amazing how much time goes into thinking, planning, and thinking some more.

My biggest hurdle is fundraising. I now have a total of $250 in my non-profit account ($20 is from me - I had to test the system first). Barely a start. Much more will be needed to afford a location to make the panels. Please spread the word about The Americana Stars Memorial so we can bring in what is needed. $10 from everyone who reads my story and publishes it on their website or sends it out to their email lists can make a big difference. And ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE! All donors will receive a Certificate of Donation with my personal thanks. The organization that is sponsoring the project has complete legal and IRS oversight, so all funds used must be accounted for. I have worked very hard to secure the credibility and integrity of this memorial. It will pass every test of scrutiny.

I tell you this because we have all heard of money that was donated in the name of 9/11 and then stolen. The people who have done that are horrible. They make it so difficult for legitimate endeavors such as mine. If anyone has any question, they have only to read my website or email me with their questions. I will be very happy to respond.

After 7 years of work, I am determined to take this all the way. I want not only to show it at Ground Zero, but in other museums and locations around New York and around the country. I do have my work cut out for me.

I am so grateful for everyone who has stuck by me throughout this process up to now - my stitchers, my friends, my Material Sponsors (see the left side bar). Please check out their websites to see the products they are selling. I am using their products because they are the best.

Wednesday, 29 July 2009

Holy Cow! I look at the date of my last post and I wonder "Where have I been?" Almost 3 whole months. Alot of catching up to do.

First, The Americana Stars Memorial. I had a meeting with some people down at ground zero about the project. They really like it, but since the decision is not up to them, I need to keep in touch and stay in their sites. Well, after 30 years in New York, I think I finally figured out how to do that without ruffling feathers, so I will continue to work on it. Fortunately, they are being very open about sharing their final list of victims names so I can be accurate on my own project.

I am still stitching like a crazy person and I am so proud to say that I have at least 2800 stars. Of course, I need 3800, but I have certainly made a dent so I can start to prepare for the next stages of planning - the panels.

Donations have been sparce ($15.) but I am still working on what to do about it. I have always been so good about how to raise money for the charities for which I have volunteered, but when it comes to my own project, I have trouble asking for it. Maybe some of you can get the word out for me to everyone you know. This blog has picked up alot more visitors in the past couple of weeks so hopefully you can give people the address, they will want to donate, etc., etc.,

I have since located my Great-Grandfather's burial site in Brooklyn and I have to say, boy, was I impressed. I have already put together a post about my adventures about that whole day of discovery and when I get the pictures taken and uploaded, I will be eager to share. It really was quite a eye-opener!

Welcome to my new followers - Tami, Keli, xstitch crazy, Terry and tpatterson2. If you have blogs, please let me know so I can add you to the list.

As you know, I have several companies supporting the memorial project. One of them is Dazor Mfg., with a lighted magnifier. Well, I broke the original piece they sent me and without hesitation, Stan Hogrebe, the owner, sent me a replacement (expensive). What a mensch! All of my suppliers have been very generous with me and I hope you will look at the list in the sidebar at left and check out their websites for things you might need for your own stitching work.

A very special thank you to Colleen H., one of my stitchers. She recently was the focus of a profile article with Nordic Needle's email newsletter and talked about The Americana Stars Memorial. You can read it all here at Nordic Needle. I have no doubt that that is why I have had so many new visitors to this blog and how I received the 2 new donations. She lives in a town in upstate NY that was recently proclaimed by CBS News as one of the 10 Coolest Small Towns in America. I hope to visit her in the fall and finally meet one of my very best stitchers. Visit her at her blog, Colleen's Cross Stitch, and say hi!

Well, I hope to not be a stranger to my own blog and I will do my best to post more often.

Sunday, 3 May 2009

Yesterday I wrote about a new follower named Terry. I could not get onto her blogs to visit, but my computer cooperated today so I want to let you know about her work. She has several blogs, but I will tell you about 2 of them.

Shut Up and Stitch is about Breast Cancer Awareness. She belongs to several BCA stitching clubs and has lots of links for information. She also shows her cross stitching projects with awareness ribbons of various design and color.

Autism from the Beginning is another blog very close to her heart because one son has it and the other is being tested. It has many links for information and her blogging about her and her sons' experiences are quite interesting to read. If anyone out there needs help, you can find some wonderful resources here.

Thanks, Terry, for becoming a follower and for giving me the opportunity to spread the word about 2 medical issues that are way too common today.